Gary=s Challenger Scholarship Motivates Students to Reach Goals
Willie and Gloria Gary awarded scholarships to four Indian town Middle School students for the sixth year of the Challenger Scholarship established to help students fulfill their dreams.
The Challenger Scholarship is awarded to eighth grade at-risk students to encourage them to complete high school. AMany people give scholarships to high schools students, A Gloria Gary said. AWe want these students to know that if they complete high school they will have their chance to attend college.@ This year=s winners were Kilina Pacheco, Julio Juan, Sylvester Clarke, Lashanta, Dawson and Dustin Holbrook.
The Garys have contributed more than $145,000 to the fund.
The winners of the scholarship were chosen from a group of applicants that were required to write an essay on AWhy I Want to go to College.@
The students were awarded the scholarship at the Indian town Middle School Commencement along with a challenge from the Garys to complete high school to collect the scholarship.
The Garys established the scholarship to give less fortunate children the chance to be a success. Willie Gary knows well the challenges underprivileged students face to have opportunities to attend college. Without a scholarship he would have been unable to attend college.
Mrs. Gary said she and her husband would not have been able to achieve as much in life had they not receive their education. AWe are grateful we can make that possible for another generation,@ she said.